Windshield-cleaner for automobiles



mamma@ 3139205.

C. HUM/OMER,

WENDSIHELD CLEHER FOR AUTMOBILES.

AFFLSCANGH ,FiLED HOV. 30 i911.

OLIVER C. RITWOLLER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOS.

WlNDSHIELD-CLWEANEB/ FOR AUTOMOBLES.

isernia.'

npplication filed November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,577.

To all LU/wm t may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER Linz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county oit Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in lVindsliieldClea-ners for Auton'iobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to Window cleaners and while of more or less general application, it relates more particularly to window cleaners of the type adapted for use in connection with automobile windshields and the like, and is designed primarily to provide means whereby the drivers of automobiles and like vehicles may easily and quickly remove frosting or moisture .trom the glass o't the windshield, thereby enabling them to maintain a clearv v-ision at all times. p

Among the objects of the present invention are-to provide a device of the class described which is simple in construction and operation and economical to manufacture; one which may be readily and quickly applied to windshields oi various sizes and forms of construction; one which is easily adjustable; one which, when applied to a windshield, may be moved from one side to the other thereof with rapidity and ease to effectively clean the glass or other trans parent medium of which the same may be made; one which comprises means whereby a lirm grip may be had in manipulating the device, and one wherein means is provided tor clfcctivcly preventing rocking oi the device or other accidental displacement there ot during u'ianipulation.

(ltlier objects and advantages will be apparent 'from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein two forms of the invention are illustrated.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the device applied to a windshield.

Fig. 2 is av cross sectional View through a windshield showing the device in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a iront elevation.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a slightly modified t'orin of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the device is shown as comprising a single rod or heavy wire of resilient material, preferably metal, which is bent intermediate its ends to form a wiper arni 5, a handle and ai supportingT or connecting member 7 which is adapted to rest on'the top horizontal cross member 8 of the frame of the windshield when the device is in operative position and to slide back and forth thereon when the device is manipulated. This supporting member 7 is provided with a suitable covering 9 which may be of rubber, fabric, leather `or any other suitable material in order to prevent marring or scratching of the trant/lofi of the windshield when the device is moved back and forth in contact therewith. l

it the lower end of the handle 6, the rod is bent inwardly as shown at 10 to provide a preferably rigid and` substantially horizontal contact shoe l0, which is adapted to bear against the inner surface of the glass 1l of the windshield, said shoe providing a continuous contact with,` said glass of consider able length by virtue of its extension on both sides of said handle, as shown in the drawings. The shoe l0a provides means whereby the cleaner is held against accidental displacement during manipulation thereof, and is particularly designed to prevent the de vice from rocking when the saine is moved gli late it. rlhis formation oi' thehandle, it' will be noted, also prevents slipping of the hand during manipulation.

The wiper arm 5 and the shoe 1011 are also covered with tubing of rubber or other suitable material ior obvious reasons, it being preferred to cement or otherwise securely tasten the tubing to these two members in order`to prevent displacement thereof during manipulation. i

s above stated, the device is preferably made of a single piece ofresilient material, the same being bent to shape, as above described. Normally, when the device is not in operative position, the shoe l0 presses lirmly against the wiper arm 5 due to the resiliency oi' the device, which resiliency also Mtl permits the device to be sprung sutiiciently to enable it to be placed over the top of the shield and moved down into the position shown in the drawings, in which position it is held against accidental displacement by the pressure exerted against opposite sides of the glass by the shoe l()a and the wiper arm The device may be readily moved, however, back and iorth trom one side of the shield to the other with comparative ease after 4it has been positioned.

lt will he noted that the shoe 10 retains the handle (i spaced away from the glass a vsufiicient distance to enable the ope `ator to pass his hand between it and the glass and to conveniently grasp the handle when it is desired to clean the shield. While the Zigv zag curvature of the handle is shown disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the shield, it is not desired to limit the device to this particular arrangement.

From the construction of the device, as above set out, it will be noted that ii' desired, the wiper 5 may be swung' or oscillated over the glass in much the same manner as that in which the pivoted cleaners, now common in the art, are operated instead of' moving the same back and forth` as above described. vWhen it is desired to thus swing the wiper arm 5 over the glass instead oi moving it back and forth thereover, the supporting member 7 is held sulistantially` stationary and the handle moved to oscillate the wiper over the glass about said member 'i' as a pivot. YRegardless et the manner in which t-he device is manipulated, it will be noted Lamme that' the shoe l0 with its long line Contact with the glass acts to effectively prevent rocking of thedevice or other accidental displacement thereof.

ln Fig'. 5 a. slightly modified form of cleaner is illustrated. In this embodiment of the invention, the handle t3 is made 0f substantially straight line construction, the zig-zag formation being dispensed with and a suitable hand grip 14 provided which may be ot wood, rubber or any other suitable 1naterial.

It is not desired to limit the invention illustrated and described herein except where limitations appear in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what` l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent et' the United States is device ot the class described, comprisini;` a supporting,` member adapted to slidably contact with the edge of a windshield, a wiper arm adapted toengaeje the outer surface oi` said shield a handle disposed on the inner side of said shield, anda shoe integral with said handle and disposed at substantially right iin'p'les thereto and to said wiper arm. said shoe beineadapted to contact with theinner surface ot said shield to prevent said device from rocliintr during manipulation and to .retain said handle spaced from said shield. Y

ln witness whereofl l hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of Noven'iber A. D.

OLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLER. 

